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[ The planet Solaris-3, or Sol-III, had a different name in the past. But after the first Lament occurred, all that was before has ceased long ago. Many things changed for the entire planet and humanity, now left to face constant disasters as they struggle to survive. Every day is a day of unchartered challenges for everyone, including Rover who has lost his memory. He doesn't even know his real name. He doesn't know where to begin at all, but he's been taking his slow steps forward as he gets to know the people in Jinzhou, one of Huanglong's six major regions and its youngest city to date. Little by little he's been doing what he can to find any clues about his forgotten self.
It's been a few weeks since Rover arrived in Jinzhou and he's more or less already familiar with the city. He still gets a little lost at times, but he's thankful for the accessible technology and the people who are always there to lend a hand or an ear. The locals are friendly and resilient, and Rover has come to be fond of them as he watches their admirable efforts to survive such a harsh planet. Within Jinzhou, peace still exists, and Rover wants to do his part to protect such a precious place.
Right now, Rover is exploring the nearby areas to help cull anomalies such as any Tidal Heritages and any Tacet Discords (TDs) he encounters. The less of these around, the better. That's how Rover eventually encounters him. At first, Rover wasn't sure what to make of the solitary figure lying in the flower field in the middle of an abandoned city. That sounds suspicious no matter how he cuts it. But since he won't get any answers simply staring, he approaches the figure while on guard, though soon realizing this is a lost human male. But where did he come from and how did he end up here? He has a foreign air about him that sets him apart from the Jinzhou locals. Is he from a faraway region? ]
… Hello? Can you hear me?
[ Testing to see if the strange young man will respond to sound, Rover tries to call out to him first before anything else. But when that doesn't work, he picks up the young man and takes him to the nearest safe area. He sees a nearby abandoned cafe with a small bar, so he approaches it and sets the young man on a couch. He then starts checking for vital signs more thoroughly, checking his breathing, his pulse, and so on. ]
It's been a few weeks since Rover arrived in Jinzhou and he's more or less already familiar with the city. He still gets a little lost at times, but he's thankful for the accessible technology and the people who are always there to lend a hand or an ear. The locals are friendly and resilient, and Rover has come to be fond of them as he watches their admirable efforts to survive such a harsh planet. Within Jinzhou, peace still exists, and Rover wants to do his part to protect such a precious place.
Right now, Rover is exploring the nearby areas to help cull anomalies such as any Tidal Heritages and any Tacet Discords (TDs) he encounters. The less of these around, the better. That's how Rover eventually encounters him. At first, Rover wasn't sure what to make of the solitary figure lying in the flower field in the middle of an abandoned city. That sounds suspicious no matter how he cuts it. But since he won't get any answers simply staring, he approaches the figure while on guard, though soon realizing this is a lost human male. But where did he come from and how did he end up here? He has a foreign air about him that sets him apart from the Jinzhou locals. Is he from a faraway region? ]
… Hello? Can you hear me?
[ Testing to see if the strange young man will respond to sound, Rover tries to call out to him first before anything else. But when that doesn't work, he picks up the young man and takes him to the nearest safe area. He sees a nearby abandoned cafe with a small bar, so he approaches it and sets the young man on a couch. He then starts checking for vital signs more thoroughly, checking his breathing, his pulse, and so on. ]
[Please... even if I'm gone... Please survive this cruel world...
That was the last thought that went through Nicola's mind before he fell into his eternal slumber. Or at least it was supposed to be eternal. It's definitely the deepest sleep he's ever experienced, at least. It isn't until he feels the dulled sensation of hands roaming his body that his consciousness finally starts to slowly drag itself out of the abyss. A low groan escapes his throat as heavy eyelids gradually open just barely halfway, revealing jade green eyes that stare lifelessly at the unfamiliar young man. Although he seems rather zombie-like, he is definitely alive.
At the moment, Nicola's brain isn't able to process his current situation. The only thing he can see and think about is this stranger hovering over him. His parched throat lets out a groggy voice to vocalize the one question running through his mind.]
Lei è chi...?
[That is definitely not a language that Rover has heard anyone speak in Jinzhou.]
That was the last thought that went through Nicola's mind before he fell into his eternal slumber. Or at least it was supposed to be eternal. It's definitely the deepest sleep he's ever experienced, at least. It isn't until he feels the dulled sensation of hands roaming his body that his consciousness finally starts to slowly drag itself out of the abyss. A low groan escapes his throat as heavy eyelids gradually open just barely halfway, revealing jade green eyes that stare lifelessly at the unfamiliar young man. Although he seems rather zombie-like, he is definitely alive.
At the moment, Nicola's brain isn't able to process his current situation. The only thing he can see and think about is this stranger hovering over him. His parched throat lets out a groggy voice to vocalize the one question running through his mind.]
Lei è chi...?
[That is definitely not a language that Rover has heard anyone speak in Jinzhou.]
[ !! ]
Oh… [ That was a momentary startle, but it's a nice one. ] I'm sorry, what did you say?
[ Rover is glad to see the young man regaining consciousness, but he doesn't look so good. Jinzhou isn't too far away, but Rover's not sure if this young man can even stand in his weakened condition. What's he trying to tell him though?
Rover's own language is actually also foreign to the young man's ears, has been from the start— ]
你可以再说一遍吗？ [ Can you repeat that? ] 你没事吧？ [ Are you all right? ]
[ That's how he's been speaking all this time. Thankfully, there's technology to help with this, but he'd have to ask Mortefi for that later. Once Rover realizes the young man can't understand him either. ]
Oh… [ That was a momentary startle, but it's a nice one. ] I'm sorry, what did you say?
[ Rover is glad to see the young man regaining consciousness, but he doesn't look so good. Jinzhou isn't too far away, but Rover's not sure if this young man can even stand in his weakened condition. What's he trying to tell him though?
Rover's own language is actually also foreign to the young man's ears, has been from the start— ]
你可以再说一遍吗？ [ Can you repeat that? ] 你没事吧？ [ Are you all right? ]
[ That's how he's been speaking all this time. Thankfully, there's technology to help with this, but he'd have to ask Mortefi for that later. Once Rover realizes the young man can't understand him either. ]
[Nicola stares vacantly at the young man as he tries to make sense of his foreign words, but he gives up after a moment. Has he heard that language before? He can't even remember that much right now. He responds with a frown.]
Mi scusi, non capisco... [I'm sorry, I don't understand...]
[How else can they communicate? The answer to that question is beyond the capabilities of Nicola's mental faculties right now. The only thing he can do is stare at the young man with sad, sleepy eyes, body still not moving a muscle.]
Mi scusi, non capisco... [I'm sorry, I don't understand...]
[How else can they communicate? The answer to that question is beyond the capabilities of Nicola's mental faculties right now. The only thing he can do is stare at the young man with sad, sleepy eyes, body still not moving a muscle.]
[ Wow, such pretty words. Rover has no idea what the young man said, but the melodic sounds are so attractive. But this confirms to Rover that this person must be a foreigner, he is likely from another region. Maybe he got lost and ended up here? Regardless of what happened, there's no way Rover will leave him all alone like this. ]
…
[ It doesn't seem like the young man will understand him even if he keeps speaking, so Rover doesn't say anything else. He can see that he can barely move, so he picks him up once more, setting the young man against his back like earlier, and begins to carry him out of this dangerous area in a piggyback ride.
Even from this far distance, the city is visible due to its large size, so Rover tries to gesture over to the city, trying to get it through that he intends to bring him there. ]
…
[ It doesn't seem like the young man will understand him even if he keeps speaking, so Rover doesn't say anything else. He can see that he can barely move, so he picks him up once more, setting the young man against his back like earlier, and begins to carry him out of this dangerous area in a piggyback ride.
Even from this far distance, the city is visible due to its large size, so Rover tries to gesture over to the city, trying to get it through that he intends to bring him there. ]
[The exhausted Italian makes no attempt at resistance as he's picked up by the foreign man, obediently wrapping weak arms loosely around his neck. Nicola finally begins to observe the bleak scenery around them, but the only thing he can think is that none of this seems real at all. This has to be a dream.
He gives a brief nod in response to the other man's gesture, indicating that Nicola understands his intent at least. Soon after, he lowers his chin to rest it on the man's shoulder and his consciousness fades to black once more before he even realizes it.]
He gives a brief nod in response to the other man's gesture, indicating that Nicola understands his intent at least. Soon after, he lowers his chin to rest it on the man's shoulder and his consciousness fades to black once more before he even realizes it.]
[ When the young man loses consciousness again, it causes Rover's worry to intensify. He seems calm all this time, but he's definitely been worried. He hopes this person doesn't have an underlying illness or so. He couldn't see any visible injuries on him earlier, but maybe he missed something… He tries to hurry back in the direction of Jinzhou, intending to rush this young man to Mortefi and the others immediately.
Rover stays on the paved paths that the Midnight Rangers frequent, as he wishes to avoid contact with the TDs as much as possible right now. He can't fight while carrying this young man. Thankfully, they eventually encounter some Midnight Rangers on patrol, and they're able to assist Rover in bringing the foreign youth back to Jinzhou on a military vehicle. During the ride, Rover hasn't taken his eyes off him and continues to monitor his condition.
Once in Jinzhou, Rover heads straight into Huaxu Academy to inform the medics and researchers about the young man. After a quick rundown, the foreigner is taken into an examination room where they scan his body and thoroughly check his health status. In the meantime, Rover talks to Mortefi about communications, asking for any solution so they can properly converse with their newest guest. Capable as he is, Mortefi does have a simple solution.
Mortefi takes Rover to another room where they store military-grade Pangu Terminals. It takes the red-haired scientist a short while, but he makes quick enough work of it and installs a translator on one of the gourds. He explains to Rover that it uses sound frequencies to be able to catch and convert words, similar to capturing Echoes or other wave frequencies. He spares Rover the in-depth technicalities and hands him the customized Pangu Terminal, telling him to give it to his new friend later. It should automatically translate his words if he keeps it on him.
Grateful, Rover thanks Mortefi and then heads back to the medical examination room to check on the mysterious young man. ]
Rover stays on the paved paths that the Midnight Rangers frequent, as he wishes to avoid contact with the TDs as much as possible right now. He can't fight while carrying this young man. Thankfully, they eventually encounter some Midnight Rangers on patrol, and they're able to assist Rover in bringing the foreign youth back to Jinzhou on a military vehicle. During the ride, Rover hasn't taken his eyes off him and continues to monitor his condition.
Once in Jinzhou, Rover heads straight into Huaxu Academy to inform the medics and researchers about the young man. After a quick rundown, the foreigner is taken into an examination room where they scan his body and thoroughly check his health status. In the meantime, Rover talks to Mortefi about communications, asking for any solution so they can properly converse with their newest guest. Capable as he is, Mortefi does have a simple solution.
Mortefi takes Rover to another room where they store military-grade Pangu Terminals. It takes the red-haired scientist a short while, but he makes quick enough work of it and installs a translator on one of the gourds. He explains to Rover that it uses sound frequencies to be able to catch and convert words, similar to capturing Echoes or other wave frequencies. He spares Rover the in-depth technicalities and hands him the customized Pangu Terminal, telling him to give it to his new friend later. It should automatically translate his words if he keeps it on him.
Grateful, Rover thanks Mortefi and then heads back to the medical examination room to check on the mysterious young man. ]
[Fortunately, Nicola's condition seems to remain stable throughout the trip to Jinzhou. Once the medics load his unconscious body onto a stretcher and wheel him to the examination room, they begin testing immediately. As they remove his clothing and change him into a medical gown, they discover the presence of a Tacet Mark on his chest as well as the weapons concealed on his person; his knives and handgun. This doesn't faze them as it is very common in this day and age to be armed, but what does catch their attention is that the designs of these weapons are very primitive.
The first thing they test is this young man's general physical condition. The first test indicates that his blood sugar is very low, so they immediately inject him with glucagon before conducting further tests. They also detect signs of mild dehydration, but everything else seems normal. No signs of any injuries or underlying medical conditions.
They'd like to examine his Forte next, but unfortunately that's pretty hard to do with an unconscious patient so the only thing they can do for now is give him some IV hydration and continue to monitor his vitals. It's during this time that Nicola's consciousness slowly starts to return to him once again. Eyes remaining closed, he reflects on what's happened so far. He recalls the final moments of his previous life and it finally clicks; he died. He should never have woken up at all. How is this possible? How did he even end up in the abandoned ruins of a foreign city?
Now cognizant of his situation, Nicola's eyes fly open and he looks up at the team of medics standing around him with a mortified expression. It's clear that his anxiety levels are very high, so one of the female medics takes one of his hands into her own, trying to give him comforting words in a soothing tone as she gently strokes his hand. She knows that he can't understand her, but emotions are universal, so she hopes that her feelings get across to him. The medics then guide Nicola through breathing exercises by demonstrating each step.
He follows along without any issues, and then he looks at the attractive female medic holding his hand with a gentle smile, appreciative of her efforts. Nicola's smiling face is so beautiful that she's immediately endeared by it, her cheeks flushing slightly. This causes one of her male colleagues to say teasingly, "Hey, no falling for the patient!" Her eyes widen in embarrassment for a moment, face reddening further as she glares at him and retorts loudly, "I-I'm not!"
Laughter erupts among the others at the poor woman's expense, lightening the atmosphere in the room. Although Nicola can't understand exactly what they're saying, he can guess what's going on by their tones and the changing expressions of the young female medic's face. He finds some amusement in it as well and lets out a soft chuckle. It's not enough to alleviate his anxiety completely, but it helps a little bit. While all of this is happening, the research team is monitoring Nicola's wave graph and taking notes.
Soon afterwards, Rover enters the room and every turns their attention to him. The most senior member of the medical team greets him, "Ah, Rover! Perfect timing! Is the translator ready?"]
The first thing they test is this young man's general physical condition. The first test indicates that his blood sugar is very low, so they immediately inject him with glucagon before conducting further tests. They also detect signs of mild dehydration, but everything else seems normal. No signs of any injuries or underlying medical conditions.
They'd like to examine his Forte next, but unfortunately that's pretty hard to do with an unconscious patient so the only thing they can do for now is give him some IV hydration and continue to monitor his vitals. It's during this time that Nicola's consciousness slowly starts to return to him once again. Eyes remaining closed, he reflects on what's happened so far. He recalls the final moments of his previous life and it finally clicks; he died. He should never have woken up at all. How is this possible? How did he even end up in the abandoned ruins of a foreign city?
Now cognizant of his situation, Nicola's eyes fly open and he looks up at the team of medics standing around him with a mortified expression. It's clear that his anxiety levels are very high, so one of the female medics takes one of his hands into her own, trying to give him comforting words in a soothing tone as she gently strokes his hand. She knows that he can't understand her, but emotions are universal, so she hopes that her feelings get across to him. The medics then guide Nicola through breathing exercises by demonstrating each step.
He follows along without any issues, and then he looks at the attractive female medic holding his hand with a gentle smile, appreciative of her efforts. Nicola's smiling face is so beautiful that she's immediately endeared by it, her cheeks flushing slightly. This causes one of her male colleagues to say teasingly, "Hey, no falling for the patient!" Her eyes widen in embarrassment for a moment, face reddening further as she glares at him and retorts loudly, "I-I'm not!"
Laughter erupts among the others at the poor woman's expense, lightening the atmosphere in the room. Although Nicola can't understand exactly what they're saying, he can guess what's going on by their tones and the changing expressions of the young female medic's face. He finds some amusement in it as well and lets out a soft chuckle. It's not enough to alleviate his anxiety completely, but it helps a little bit. While all of this is happening, the research team is monitoring Nicola's wave graph and taking notes.
Soon afterwards, Rover enters the room and every turns their attention to him. The most senior member of the medical team greets him, "Ah, Rover! Perfect timing! Is the translator ready?"]
Edited 2024-06-08 16:44 (UTC)
[ The atmosphere in here feels much brighter compared to earlier, so Rover knows the treatments must be going well. He smiles as he walks further in, taking in the friendly faces of the medical staff. He notices that the foreigner is awake now too, so he approaches him and carefully gives him the prepared Pangu Terminal. Rather than vocally answer the question, he'll demonstrate it instead. He wants to see it in action right away too. ]
Can you understand me now?
[ The light on the gourd automatically turns green, indicating it's beginning to translate Rover's words to everyone in this room. They should all hear a language that they're familiar with, which includes their guest. ]
Can you understand me now?
[ The light on the gourd automatically turns green, indicating it's beginning to translate Rover's words to everyone in this room. They should all hear a language that they're familiar with, which includes their guest. ]
[Still laying down, Nicola accepts the unfamiliar device as the female medic releases his hand so he can do so. He's surprised to realize that the words that are coming out of his rescuer's mouth now are Italian. Eyes now full of life, Nicola stares at the green light on the device with an expression of amazement. What an incredible little machine.
After a moment, he looks up at the other man with a grateful smile.]
Yes. Thank you for everything you've done for me. I hope I didn't cause you too much trouble.
[It's obvious that this man is the one who brought him here. He was carrying him when he fell unconscious again, after all, and now he's here too. Everyone else can understand Nicola as well, meaning that the translator is indeed ready. They praise Mortefi amongst themselves, impressed with his work.]
After a moment, he looks up at the other man with a grateful smile.]
Yes. Thank you for everything you've done for me. I hope I didn't cause you too much trouble.
[It's obvious that this man is the one who brought him here. He was carrying him when he fell unconscious again, after all, and now he's here too. Everyone else can understand Nicola as well, meaning that the translator is indeed ready. They praise Mortefi amongst themselves, impressed with his work.]
[ Seeing the young man's lively eyes sends a wave of relief to Rover. Of course, he trusts the medical team here to do a marvelous job, but seeing the results for himself really has him looking up to them more. He can see the drastic changes compared to before, those pretty eyes aside, the foreigner's skin is also less paler and his complexion looks warmer. Rover's smile gets brighter too, even more when he can finally understand the young man's words as well. ]
No, not at all. I was just surprised to find you out there…
[ One of the doctors comment, "It's deja vu for us. After all, your arrival is somewhat similar, Rover." The team laughs a little. Considering the memory is still quite fresh, they remember it like it was yesterday. Rover also came out of nowhere and was found somewhere unexpected. "I suppose you found someone you can relate to now," another doctor mentions. Rover's expression remains bright but there's a hint of shyness mixed in it as well. ]
I'm glad you're doing better. May I ask what you were doing in the abandoned city? Did you get lost?
No, not at all. I was just surprised to find you out there…
[ One of the doctors comment, "It's deja vu for us. After all, your arrival is somewhat similar, Rover." The team laughs a little. Considering the memory is still quite fresh, they remember it like it was yesterday. Rover also came out of nowhere and was found somewhere unexpected. "I suppose you found someone you can relate to now," another doctor mentions. Rover's expression remains bright but there's a hint of shyness mixed in it as well. ]
I'm glad you're doing better. May I ask what you were doing in the abandoned city? Did you get lost?
[Rover? So that is this young man's name. And his arrival was similar to his own? That has Nicola's curiosity piqued, but Rover questions him before he can say anything. His expression shifts to a tense one as he's reminded of his circumstances, answering with a frown.]
I... I'm afraid I don't remember.
[Nicola has no idea what he was doing in that city, but he does know that he isn't supposed to be alive. He can't say that, though. Chances are they wouldn't believe him, but if they did... what would happen to him? It's too risky to reveal that much information.
While the research team takes notes on this conversation, another one of the doctors asks him, "Do you remember your name?" Nicola does remember his first name, but only because he recalls Dante saying it when he grabbed his hand with the last of his strength. The only person from his past life that he can somewhat remember, since he was the only one who was there to witness his final moments. He doesn't remember his full history with Dante, but he's sure that man was the most important person in his life.]
It's Nicola.
["Where are you from, Nicola?" the same doctor asks. He recognizes his native language as Italian, so the only answer that makes sense is he's from Italy, but his intuition is telling him not to reveal that much either, so he answers with:]
I don't remember.
I... I'm afraid I don't remember.
[Nicola has no idea what he was doing in that city, but he does know that he isn't supposed to be alive. He can't say that, though. Chances are they wouldn't believe him, but if they did... what would happen to him? It's too risky to reveal that much information.
While the research team takes notes on this conversation, another one of the doctors asks him, "Do you remember your name?" Nicola does remember his first name, but only because he recalls Dante saying it when he grabbed his hand with the last of his strength. The only person from his past life that he can somewhat remember, since he was the only one who was there to witness his final moments. He doesn't remember his full history with Dante, but he's sure that man was the most important person in his life.]
It's Nicola.
["Where are you from, Nicola?" the same doctor asks. He recognizes his native language as Italian, so the only answer that makes sense is he's from Italy, but his intuition is telling him not to reveal that much either, so he answers with:]
I don't remember.
Ah…
[ Upon realization, the entire room falls quiet for a few seconds. It's unfortunate that Nicola doesn't remember. He seems to be showing signs of amnesia. So perhaps he is much more like Rover than they expected. But how severe is it? Is it temporary? The doctors continue monitoring Nicola's condition, making sure they're thorough. They've done all they can but they'll continue to watch over him with care. ]
You should rest more, Nicola. We can talk more later.
[ The doctors were about to suggest that as well, so it's good that Rover brought it up. To reassure his new friend, Rover reaches his own hands forward to squeeze both of Nicola's. It's a quiet gesture to let him know that he's not alone. They can figure this out together. ]
It's nice to meet you, by the way. I'm… well, I don't know my name. But people decided to call me Rover. I have amnesia, too.
[ Upon realization, the entire room falls quiet for a few seconds. It's unfortunate that Nicola doesn't remember. He seems to be showing signs of amnesia. So perhaps he is much more like Rover than they expected. But how severe is it? Is it temporary? The doctors continue monitoring Nicola's condition, making sure they're thorough. They've done all they can but they'll continue to watch over him with care. ]
You should rest more, Nicola. We can talk more later.
[ The doctors were about to suggest that as well, so it's good that Rover brought it up. To reassure his new friend, Rover reaches his own hands forward to squeeze both of Nicola's. It's a quiet gesture to let him know that he's not alone. They can figure this out together. ]
It's nice to meet you, by the way. I'm… well, I don't know my name. But people decided to call me Rover. I have amnesia, too.
[Rover's kindness towards him is truly appreciated. Knowing that he also has amnesia, it seems he really has gone through a similar experience and it explains why he's going out of his way to help him so much. Nicola would probably do the same thing in his position. Still, he doesn't plan on relying on him longer than he has to. He's going to try to pull himself together as soon as possible so he won't burden Rover for too long.
He gives the other man's hands a brief squeeze as well as he answers with a faint smile.]
I see... Thank you, Rover. It's a pleasure to meet you too. We'll definitely talk more later.
He gives the other man's hands a brief squeeze as well as he answers with a faint smile.]
I see... Thank you, Rover. It's a pleasure to meet you too. We'll definitely talk more later.
[ No wonder that female medic is so downbad for Nicola. He really does have such a stunning smile and such a charismatic aura even as he's stuck in bed. Even Rover finds himself blushing a little just looking at him like this, and that blush intensifies when Nicola returns a squeeze, so Rover shyly moves his hands back shortly after. He tries to compose himself, hoping no one caught him blushing just now. ]
I have my contact saved in the gourd for you. Just give me a call when you're ready to be discharged.
[ He gestures towards the Pangu Terminal. ]
That's yours now, so you can use it as you need.
I have my contact saved in the gourd for you. Just give me a call when you're ready to be discharged.
[ He gestures towards the Pangu Terminal. ]
That's yours now, so you can use it as you need.
[Some of the medics do notice as does Nicola, but fortunately for Rover none of them say anything. His smile does briefly turn into an amused one though until Rover brings up the gourd, then he looks surprised and confused.]
What? I can call people with this thing?
[He turns the gourd around in his hands, examining it from every angle, but he can't figure out how it works at all.]
How?
What? I can call people with this thing?
[He turns the gourd around in his hands, examining it from every angle, but he can't figure out how it works at all.]
How?
Huh? Ah, it runs with voice commands, so you simply say "Call Rover" if you want to call me.
[ That's strange. Nicola doesn't know how to use a Pangu Terminal? Do they not have these in other regions? No, that can't be. They should have equivalents of it at least, so he should have an idea. But looking at Nicola's bewildered expression, it seems the concept is completely alien.
Did Nicola's amnesia affect his knowledge of daily life somehow? Rover's worries come up again, staring at him with concern. ]
Be sure to call me, okay?
[ That's strange. Nicola doesn't know how to use a Pangu Terminal? Do they not have these in other regions? No, that can't be. They should have equivalents of it at least, so he should have an idea. But looking at Nicola's bewildered expression, it seems the concept is completely alien.
Did Nicola's amnesia affect his knowledge of daily life somehow? Rover's worries come up again, staring at him with concern. ]
Be sure to call me, okay?
Oh. I see.
[Not really. He never would have guessed that. Judging by the concerned expression Rover is giving him now, that must have been common knowledge. Why doesn't Nicola remember it, then? Not wanting to worry him further, he gives the other man a bright, reassuring smile.]
Don't worry, I will. Take it easy in the meantime.
[Not really. He never would have guessed that. Judging by the concerned expression Rover is giving him now, that must have been common knowledge. Why doesn't Nicola remember it, then? Not wanting to worry him further, he gives the other man a bright, reassuring smile.]
Don't worry, I will. Take it easy in the meantime.
[ With their conversation done, Rover gives Nicola a small wave before leaving the medical examination room. The doctors will be moving Nicola to a proper hospital room soon, so they try to finish off his remaining tests as quickly as possible, so the young foreigner can finally settle down and continue resting without any more interruptions. All the questions must've been exhausting for someone who is still recovering.
Later on, the doctors mention to Nicola that he'll be staying in the hospital bay for about three days if nothing else comes up. They need to make sure that he's in top condition before they let him go. They're also hoping to find out if any of Nicola's memories will return over the next few days, or if Nicola is going to end up like Rover who can't get it back no matter what. The kind female medic is the one assigned to continue nursing Nicola since they believe that someone who he's already comfortable with will help with the recovery.
It's the first day and it's only been a few hours since Rover left. Nicola is now in a warm and clean hospital room, the television playing old records of classic programs that have long been lost in this world. ]
Later on, the doctors mention to Nicola that he'll be staying in the hospital bay for about three days if nothing else comes up. They need to make sure that he's in top condition before they let him go. They're also hoping to find out if any of Nicola's memories will return over the next few days, or if Nicola is going to end up like Rover who can't get it back no matter what. The kind female medic is the one assigned to continue nursing Nicola since they believe that someone who he's already comfortable with will help with the recovery.
It's the first day and it's only been a few hours since Rover left. Nicola is now in a warm and clean hospital room, the television playing old records of classic programs that have long been lost in this world. ]
[Nicola waves back before Rover leaves the room, and so begins his hospital stay. The television is yet another wondrous new piece of technology to him and browses through the selection of programs until he settles on one that he wants to marathon: Master Chef. It's just the distraction he needs right now. His new medic friend brings him dinner later and they discover that Nicola isn't very familiar with Huanglong cuisine, nor does he know how to use chopsticks. That's not unusual for a foreigner. So he ends up needing to be taught to use chopsticks in order to eat his food, but he learns quicker than expected. It will take some time until he can use them as naturally as a Huanglong native, but the medic reassures him that she's confident he'll master them. She also discovers that he's a picky eater; the parts of the dish that he didn't like are left untouched on his plate.
The rest of the first day passes uneventfully. During the afternoon of the second day, the doctors want to test Nicola's Forte. He has no idea what that means, which causes some concern. They find it even more alarming that he doesn't even know what Resonators, Tacet Marks, Tacet Discords, Tacet Fields, or the Waveworn Phenomenon are, nor is he aware that he himself has a Tacet Mark on his body. Once he's told where it is, Nicola takes a peek under his gown and finds the Tacet Mark on his chest. The sight of it immediately triggers a flashback to the moment he received his fatal wound in his previous life. His Tacet Mark is in the same exact spot that his killer's knife plunged itself into. He recalls the killer saying Nicola's full name in a shaky voice and the sight of Dante covered in Nicola's blood, holding him and looking down at him with a look of such shock and despair...
The disturbing realization causes Nicola to have an anxiety attack, which in turn causes him to become dangerously close to Overclocking. His medic friend comforts him once again, but he isn't able to calm down completely so he's given a small dose of alprazolam. The doctors decide to postpone the tests and the medic stays by Nicola's side as the medicine kicks in, soon calming down and falling asleep for a few hours. When he wakes up, he apologizes for causing trouble and insists on going through with the tests. He understands how important it is after being educated on everything earlier.
Nicola won't talk about what he remembered, but they do suspect that he must have regained a traumatic memory to react like that from seeing his Tacet Mark. Perhaps it had to do with the circumstances of his Awakening. They don't press him on it, however, and proceed with the tests. The female medic holds Nicola's hand the entire time to help ease his nerves and the tests are completed without any further issues. They also do some tests to assess his physical fitness and conclude that while he is still understandably weak from being bedridden for the past couple of days, he is otherwise in great shape.
He barely gets any sleep the second night. The doctors do a final round of tests the next morning and conclude that Nicola can be safely discharged. They tell him that they're giving him a prescription for alprazolam, however it's non-refillable because it is a highly addictive substance and is only to be taken as needed to stop any future anxiety attacks as he will definitely Overclock if he has an episode like that again. They recommend seeing a mental health counsellor that specializes in amnesia for a more long-term solution, and they schedule a follow-up visit for two weeks later. He is also to avoid heavy physical activity for the next week as he continues to recover his strength. They give him the contact info for both their office and the counsellor they're referring him to, and since he doesn't have a single Shell Credit to his name, they waive his hospital fees and give him 50,000 Shell Credits to cover the cost of the medicine with enough leftover to provide for food or any other necessities he may need for the next few days. They're confident that Rover will be willing to take him in while he gets back on his feet. Nicola thanks them profusely for their generosity and the wonderful care they've given him the past three days.
With all of that settled, he calls Rover with his Pangu Terminal as promised.]
Good morning, Rover! I'm officially a free man now. Do you have time to pick me up? I haven't even seen what's outside these walls yet, so I'm afraid I might get lost if I try to find you, haha...
The rest of the first day passes uneventfully. During the afternoon of the second day, the doctors want to test Nicola's Forte. He has no idea what that means, which causes some concern. They find it even more alarming that he doesn't even know what Resonators, Tacet Marks, Tacet Discords, Tacet Fields, or the Waveworn Phenomenon are, nor is he aware that he himself has a Tacet Mark on his body. Once he's told where it is, Nicola takes a peek under his gown and finds the Tacet Mark on his chest. The sight of it immediately triggers a flashback to the moment he received his fatal wound in his previous life. His Tacet Mark is in the same exact spot that his killer's knife plunged itself into. He recalls the killer saying Nicola's full name in a shaky voice and the sight of Dante covered in Nicola's blood, holding him and looking down at him with a look of such shock and despair...
The disturbing realization causes Nicola to have an anxiety attack, which in turn causes him to become dangerously close to Overclocking. His medic friend comforts him once again, but he isn't able to calm down completely so he's given a small dose of alprazolam. The doctors decide to postpone the tests and the medic stays by Nicola's side as the medicine kicks in, soon calming down and falling asleep for a few hours. When he wakes up, he apologizes for causing trouble and insists on going through with the tests. He understands how important it is after being educated on everything earlier.
Nicola won't talk about what he remembered, but they do suspect that he must have regained a traumatic memory to react like that from seeing his Tacet Mark. Perhaps it had to do with the circumstances of his Awakening. They don't press him on it, however, and proceed with the tests. The female medic holds Nicola's hand the entire time to help ease his nerves and the tests are completed without any further issues. They also do some tests to assess his physical fitness and conclude that while he is still understandably weak from being bedridden for the past couple of days, he is otherwise in great shape.
He barely gets any sleep the second night. The doctors do a final round of tests the next morning and conclude that Nicola can be safely discharged. They tell him that they're giving him a prescription for alprazolam, however it's non-refillable because it is a highly addictive substance and is only to be taken as needed to stop any future anxiety attacks as he will definitely Overclock if he has an episode like that again. They recommend seeing a mental health counsellor that specializes in amnesia for a more long-term solution, and they schedule a follow-up visit for two weeks later. He is also to avoid heavy physical activity for the next week as he continues to recover his strength. They give him the contact info for both their office and the counsellor they're referring him to, and since he doesn't have a single Shell Credit to his name, they waive his hospital fees and give him 50,000 Shell Credits to cover the cost of the medicine with enough leftover to provide for food or any other necessities he may need for the next few days. They're confident that Rover will be willing to take him in while he gets back on his feet. Nicola thanks them profusely for their generosity and the wonderful care they've given him the past three days.
With all of that settled, he calls Rover with his Pangu Terminal as promised.]
Good morning, Rover! I'm officially a free man now. Do you have time to pick me up? I haven't even seen what's outside these walls yet, so I'm afraid I might get lost if I try to find you, haha...
[ Since Rover is officially Nicola's guardian (as he's the one who brought him in), Rover has been receiving updates on Nicola's progress in the hospital the past few days. The female medic reports to Rover daily, letting him know what's been going on. The good news is that it's fully confirmed that Nicola has no physical illnesses or wounds. Unfortunately, his mental state is a different story. Learning about what happened to Nicola causes Rover's heart to sink. Could it be possible that the young foreigner has amnesia because of a heavily scarring past that he'd rather forget? After all, that's usually one of the more common causes. The mind wipes away unpleasant memories to protect itself.
On a separate note, it was already curious that Nicola didn't know how to use a Pangu Terminal. But to think he also doesn't know about so many commonplace words… Did his amnesia affect that much? Is there another reason that they've yet to realize? Regardless, they can take their time. Whatever the story is, Rover will be patient with Nicola and will be there every step of the way. He said it with a gesture previously by squeezing Nicola's hands — a gesture that means he's right here with him. It's time to remind his new foreign friend of this. So he smiles when he answers the call. ]
I'm glad you're well, Nicola. And yes, I've heard from your nurse a while ago. I'm already on my way.
[ The walk to Huaxu Academy isn't far away, so Rover will be here within a few minutes. Nicola is probably a bit nervous to be standing in the lobby all alone, so Rover decides to stay on the line as he hurries his steps. Then, he considers lighter topics since it's a good icebreaker, and he figures it might also help rid of any lingering anxieties. ]
I also heard you haven't been finishing your meals. Is our local cuisine too exotic for you? Or are there any ingredients you particularly dislike?
On a separate note, it was already curious that Nicola didn't know how to use a Pangu Terminal. But to think he also doesn't know about so many commonplace words… Did his amnesia affect that much? Is there another reason that they've yet to realize? Regardless, they can take their time. Whatever the story is, Rover will be patient with Nicola and will be there every step of the way. He said it with a gesture previously by squeezing Nicola's hands — a gesture that means he's right here with him. It's time to remind his new foreign friend of this. So he smiles when he answers the call. ]
I'm glad you're well, Nicola. And yes, I've heard from your nurse a while ago. I'm already on my way.
[ The walk to Huaxu Academy isn't far away, so Rover will be here within a few minutes. Nicola is probably a bit nervous to be standing in the lobby all alone, so Rover decides to stay on the line as he hurries his steps. Then, he considers lighter topics since it's a good icebreaker, and he figures it might also help rid of any lingering anxieties. ]
I also heard you haven't been finishing your meals. Is our local cuisine too exotic for you? Or are there any ingredients you particularly dislike?
[It is true that Nicola is a bit nervous, but it's not because he's in the lobby by himself. It's because the time has come for him to begin acclimating himself in a completely foreign environment where he knows (almost) no one and start figuring out what he's going to do with his new life. Quite the daunting task, but it does help to know that Rover and the kind people at the hospital are all in his corner. He truly feels lucky that Rover is the one who found him. He can only hope that he continues to have good fortune in his new life.
When his new friend brings up his eating habits, Nicola laughs sheepishly. Both of those are true, but for some reason he can't bring himself to admit it, so he instinctively gives another excuse instead.]
She even told you that much, did she? I felt bad about wasting food, but... I just have a small appetite, that's all.
When his new friend brings up his eating habits, Nicola laughs sheepishly. Both of those are true, but for some reason he can't bring himself to admit it, so he instinctively gives another excuse instead.]
She even told you that much, did she? I felt bad about wasting food, but... I just have a small appetite, that's all.
[ Since Nicola did only recently recover, it makes sense that his appetite is low. Rover doesn't question it because of that and he only lets out an understanding hum at the explanation. He'll make sure to note to feed Nicola lighter meals and the milder flavored dishes. ]
We'll work on that together, too.
[ "Too," implies that Rover will handle everything else with Nicola as well. Nicola has nothing to be afraid of, or at least Rover wants it to be that way. Hearing the young foreigner's adorable laugh at the other line, Rover hopes that's a sign that he's doing something right. ]
I'm nearly there, Nicola. You can step out of the building.
[ Once he does, he'll be able to see Rover in the near distance. ]
We'll work on that together, too.
[ "Too," implies that Rover will handle everything else with Nicola as well. Nicola has nothing to be afraid of, or at least Rover wants it to be that way. Hearing the young foreigner's adorable laugh at the other line, Rover hopes that's a sign that he's doing something right. ]
I'm nearly there, Nicola. You can step out of the building.
[ Once he does, he'll be able to see Rover in the near distance. ]
[How is this man so sweet? Nicola finds himself smiling brightly at his endearing response.]
Alright. I'm heading out now.
[Then he steps outside as instructed. Nicola can't help but take a moment to take in the foreign scenery before his eyes begin scanning for any sign of Rover. It doesn't take long to spot him approaching, and Nicola gives him a friendly wave as he walks toward him as well.]
Oh...
[He just realized he doesn't know how to hang up. He never thought to ask until now.]
What do I say to end the call?
Alright. I'm heading out now.
[Then he steps outside as instructed. Nicola can't help but take a moment to take in the foreign scenery before his eyes begin scanning for any sign of Rover. It doesn't take long to spot him approaching, and Nicola gives him a friendly wave as he walks toward him as well.]
Oh...
[He just realized he doesn't know how to hang up. He never thought to ask until now.]
What do I say to end the call?
[ Hurrying his steps, Rover starts lightly running as he returns a wave to Nicola. His expression gets brighter the closer he gets, excited to spend some time with his fellow amnesiac. They have each other from now on, so he's looking forward to it. ]
Nicola!
[ Beaming. ✨ When Nicola asks how to end the call, Rover reaches his hands forward gently to hold both of his foreign friend's, then guides them to where a certain button is. ]
You can say "End Call," or you can press this button. This is the cancel button and you can press it whenever you want to end a command or a program.
[ With their hands still together, Rover helps Nicola press the button at the same time, their fingers on top of each other's. The holographic screen that displayed the call information fades out. ]
There you go. Now, what shall we do first? Do you want to eat before I show you where you'll be staying?
Nicola!
[ Beaming. ✨ When Nicola asks how to end the call, Rover reaches his hands forward gently to hold both of his foreign friend's, then guides them to where a certain button is. ]
You can say "End Call," or you can press this button. This is the cancel button and you can press it whenever you want to end a command or a program.
[ With their hands still together, Rover helps Nicola press the button at the same time, their fingers on top of each other's. The holographic screen that displayed the call information fades out. ]
There you go. Now, what shall we do first? Do you want to eat before I show you where you'll be staying?
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